From 31 October 2026, Madagascar Airlines will officially retire its transition name and return to the historic brand Air Madagascar. The rebrand, confirmed by new CEO Rado Rabarilala, is a powerful symbolic milestone for Madagascar's national carrier — still under court-supervised restructuring, but intent on rebuilding credibility after a decade of turbulence.
Why this rebrand, why now
Madagascar Airlines was created in 2021 following the merger of the original Air Madagascar — which had been liquidated — and its domestic subsidiary Tsaradia. Appointed CEO in spring 2026, Rado Rabarilala moved quickly to restore the historic name. The stated goal: break away from a brand associated with a painful restructuring and rebuild a "reliable, well-managed airline" worthy of public and commercial trust.
The Malagasy state holds 51% of the capital. Total debt is estimated at around 100 million — part of which has already been absorbed by the state, which wrote off a portion of its claims on the former structure, according to Madagascar Tribune. The airline remains under court supervision.
A network rebuilding step by step
Operationally, Air Madagascar relaunched the Antananarivo–Moroni (Comoros) route in late July 2026 via Mahajanga, with two weekly ATR 72-500 frequencies. A codeshare agreement with Ewa Air, active since April 2026, covers Mayotte–Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Mahajanga and Nosy Be, strengthening intra-Indian Ocean connectivity.
On the wish list: Réunion, Marseille, Bangkok and Guangzhou. No timetable, frequency or fares have yet been published for these routes. The Marseille service hinges on securing a leased wide-body aircraft with crew — an asset the airline does not yet own.
Agency reopenings signal commercial revival
In July 2026, the Mahajanga agency reopened. On 11 September, the Analakely agency — in the heart of Antananarivo — resumed operations. These reopenings signal a clear intent to establish direct commercial presence ahead of a potential return to high-potential regional markets.
Why it matters
For business operators across the Indian Ocean, the revival of Air Madagascar is a file worth watching closely. The airline remains fragile, but the Comoros route relaunch and the stated ambitions towards Réunion and Europe open real prospects for regional connectivity. A stronger Malagasy air network means more tourist flows, commercial partnerships, and talent mobility between islands. The 31 October deadline is the first stone in what remains a long road ahead.
Sources: Air Journal, 15 September 2026; ATTA; ch-aviation.